State Representation:
New York (consisted mostly of Anti-Federalists)
Occupation and Socio-economic Background:
Jay was born the son of a merchant in New York. He was privately tutored untill he attended King's College. He graduated from there as a lawyer. John Jay married Sarah Livingston, the daughter of the New Jersey Governor, in 1774. They had six children. During the American Revolution, he was appointed into the New York Committee of Correspondence, the Continental Congress, and the New York Constitutional Convention. He was President of the Continental Congress from 1778-1779. He was also Secretary for Foreign Affairs. He served as Chief Justice for New York and George Washington appointed him as the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was elected governor of New York after serving on the Supreme Court. During his life, John Jay wrote several articles on federalism.
Constitutional Convention:
John Jay was not a member of the Constitutional Convention. He was not appointed as a delegate by his state because he was a Federalist. New York was mainly Anti-Federalist so they chose two Anti-Federalists and one Federalist, Alexander Hamilton, to attend.
State's Ratification Convention:
Jay was a member of the New York State Ratification Convention where he voted for the Constitution. He also wrote a pamphlet, "An Address to the People of New York," that restated the Federalist case for the Constitution.
Arguments for Constitution: John Jay wanted the Constitution. Without it, fragile America would continue to fall into chaos. The Constitution is needed to unify the states so that they would not become separate, small countries and have war between each other like in Europe. It would also unify foreign affairs and make America powerful so we will not be bullied by other powerful countries. Apart, we are thirteen small, weak armies but together, we form one, great army. Trade would also increase because we would have the same regulations throughout the states. Other countries would make treaties with us because we would appear unified, organized, and efficient under the Constitution. If many states adopt the Constitution, others would have to choose to also join or to separate from the union. The Constitution is worth being given a chance so that we stay unified as brothers. We can mend it as we go. It also has checks and balances for government so tyranny can not happen; protecting our individual freedoms. John Jay believed that if we do not let ourselves be governed, disorder and confusion will spread and republicanism will be forgotten.
References:
Alexander Hamilton and James Madison wrote the the Federalist Papers with Jay. George Washington also shared Federalist beliefs, praising Jay's pamphlet, "Arguments for Adopting the Proposed Federal Constitution." Washington said that the pamphlet could not fail in making a serious impression on Anti-Federalists. They wrote letters back and forth in 1786 about the current central government being to weak. A foe of John Jay could be the New York state legislature because it did not choose him as a delegate for the Constitutional Convention since he was Federalist and New York was mainly Anti-Federalist.
Political Standpoint:
Federalist
State Representation:
New York (consisted mostly of Anti-Federalists)
Occupation and Socio-economic Background:
Jay was born the son of a merchant in New York. He was privately tutored untill he attended King's College. He graduated from there as a lawyer. John Jay married Sarah Livingston, the daughter of the New Jersey Governor, in 1774. They had six children. During the American Revolution, he was appointed into the New York Committee of Correspondence, the Continental Congress, and the New York Constitutional Convention. He was President of the Continental Congress from 1778-1779. He was also Secretary for Foreign Affairs. He served as Chief Justice for New York and George Washington appointed him as the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was elected governor of New York after serving on the Supreme Court. During his life, John Jay wrote several articles on federalism.
Constitutional Convention:
John Jay was not a member of the Constitutional Convention. He was not appointed as a delegate by his state because he was a Federalist. New York was mainly Anti-Federalist so they chose two Anti-Federalists and one Federalist, Alexander Hamilton, to attend.
State's Ratification Convention:
Jay was a member of the New York State Ratification Convention where he voted for the Constitution. He also wrote a pamphlet, "An Address to the People of New York," that restated the Federalist case for the Constitution.
Arguments for Constitution:
John Jay wanted the Constitution. Without it, fragile America would continue to fall into chaos. The Constitution is needed to unify the states so that they would not become separate, small countries and have war between each other like in Europe. It would also unify foreign affairs and make America powerful so we will not be bullied by other powerful countries. Apart, we are thirteen small, weak armies but together, we form one, great army. Trade would also increase because we would have the same regulations throughout the states. Other countries would make treaties with us because we would appear unified, organized, and efficient under the Constitution. If many states adopt the Constitution, others would have to choose to also join or to separate from the union. The Constitution is worth being given a chance so that we stay unified as brothers. We can mend it as we go. It also has checks and balances for government so tyranny can not happen; protecting our individual freedoms. John Jay believed that if we do not let ourselves be governed, disorder and confusion will spread and republicanism will be forgotten.
References:
Alexander Hamilton and James Madison wrote the the Federalist Papers with Jay. George Washington also shared Federalist beliefs, praising Jay's pamphlet, "Arguments for Adopting the Proposed Federal Constitution." Washington said that the pamphlet could not fail in making a serious impression on Anti-Federalists. They wrote letters back and forth in 1786 about the current central government being to weak. A foe of John Jay could be the New York state legislature because it did not choose him as a delegate for the Constitutional Convention since he was Federalist and New York was mainly Anti-Federalist.
Bibliography:
"A Brief Biography of John Jay." Columbia University Libraries. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/jay/biography.html>.
"The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay". Edited by Henry P. Johnston. 4 vols. New York and London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1890--93.
*"The Federalist Papers." Founding Fathers. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <**http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/**>.
*John Jay "Arguments for Adopting the Proposed Federal Constitution," Annals of American History.
<http://america.eb.com/america/print?articleld=385341>.
"John Jay and the Constitution." Columbia University in the City of New York. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/exhibitions/constitution/essay.html>.
"John Jay." USHistory.org. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/jay.htm>.
LeftJustified.org. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.leftjustified.com/leftjust/lib/sc/ht/fed/jbio.html>.